If Leeds United hadn’t waited until the final few days of the transfer window to try signing reported West Ham target Giovanni Simeone, perhaps Marcelo Bielsa wouldn’t have had to deploy Daniel James in an ill-fitting number nine role during Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Leicester City.
The injury-enforced absence of Patrick Bamford has shone a CSI Miami-style UV light on the worrying lack of attacking depth at Bielsa’s disposal.
James and Rodrigo Moreno, two international forwards who set Andrea Radrizzani back more than £50 million combined, have struggled to emulate Bamford’s line-leading excellence, with 19-year-old Joe Gelhardt coming closer than anyone to stepping into the England striker’s shoes.
Simeone, in contrast, has the strength, poise and, most importantly, dead-eyed finishing skills required to turn defeats into draws and draws into wins with one swing of his boot.
And with the Argentina international in the form of his life, it’s tempting to wonder whether Leeds would be snugly in mid-table heading into the November international break rather than glancing nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone.
“Both (Nahitan) Nandez and Simeone are players Leeds like,” Cagliari president Tommaso Giulini said in September 2020 after turning down an approach from the Yorkshire giants for two of his star players.
“But it is excluded that these players leave in the last few days (of the window) because that would weaken us and that’s not what we want to do. It’s too late now (in the window) – there wouldn’t be time to replace them.”
West Ham signing Simeone could be a blow to Leeds’ January plans
West Ham, then, appear to be going about things the right way. According to The Express, Simeone is the club’s top target as they look to bring in someone capable of easing the burden on Michail Antonio’s piano-wire hamstrings.
West Ham failed with a loan bid for the £14 million poacher in the summer but if they’re planning their move with three months to go until the January transfer window closes, it seems unlikely they’ll make the same mistake Leeds did and leave it far too late to firm up their interest.
Simeone has scored nine goals in 11 Serie A games since leaving Cagliari for Hellas Verona, following up four stunning strikes against Lazio with a match-winning brace versus Juventus.
Perhaps the biggest compliment that can be paid to Simeone is no-one is referring to him as Diego’s son any more…
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
